Two-photon photovoltaic effect for upconversion of 1300nm and 1550nm laser light to electrical energy

The two-photon photovoltaic effect is a nonlinear optical phenomenon in which two photons are simultaneously absorbed to excite an electron across the bandgap of a material, thereby generating an electric current even when each individual photon has less energy than the bandgap. This effect is particularly intriguing in the context of photonics and energy delivery via high-intensity pulsed lasers. In particular, it enables upconversion of 1300nm and 1550nm laser light to electrical energy in silicon photovoltaic waveguides. Integration with nanophotonics and metamaterial offers a path to increasing the light intensity and enhancing the two photon absorption.